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Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Washington

Considering working as a Detectives and Criminal Investigators in Washington? Below are the key facts. Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes. Excludes “Private Detectives and Investigators” (33-9021).

What do Detectives and Criminal Investigators Make in Washington?

For detectives and criminal investigators working in Washington, the median annual wage is $116,450 per year (or about $55.99/hour).Pay can range from $86,200 at the 10th percentile to $164,240 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$86,200	$41.44
25th percentile	$97,500	$46.88
Median (50th)	$116,450	$55.99
75th percentile	$126,570	$60.85
90th percentile	$164,240	$78.96

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Washington nationwide is 0.66, suggesting fewer detectives and criminal investigators per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, detectives and criminal investigators earn a median of $64,492 per year ($31.01/hour), higher than the Washington median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 410,420 detectives and criminal investigators in the U.S.. In Washington alone, around 1,680 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 1,240 detectives and criminal investigators.

Top Washington Metros for Detectives and Criminal Investigators

The metro areas below employ the most detectives and criminal investigators in Washington.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	680	$122,450
Bellingham, WA	260	$120,080
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	260	$107,580
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	180	$86,200
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	40	$113,590
Kennewick-Richland, WA	40	$103,940

Top States for Detectives and Criminal Investigators Employment

These states have the highest employment of detectives and criminal investigators work.

State	Number Employed
Texas	18,020
California	11,900
New York	9,410
Florida	6,310
Arizona	5,220
Georgia	4,820
Pennsylvania	3,390
North Carolina	3,240
Virginia	3,170
Illinois	3,100
New Jersey	3,000
Ohio	2,120
Michigan	2,050
Colorado	2,030
New Mexico	2,000
Tennessee	1,960
Louisiana	1,870
Minnesota	1,770
Washington	1,680
Wisconsin	1,480

Highest-Paying States for Detectives and Criminal Investigators

The highest-paying states for detectives and criminal investigators.

State	Annual Median Salary
Maryland	$125,630
California	$122,140
Alaska	$121,140
Washington	$116,450
New Jersey	$113,830
Hawaii	$112,100
Massachusetts	$111,460
Virginia	$110,220
Oregon	$107,450
Vermont	$104,330

Skills

Key detectives and criminal investigators skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Top abilities for detectives and criminal investigators, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• Check victims for signs of life, such as breathing and pulse.
• Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device.
• Secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it prior to medical examiner's arrival.
• Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
• Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.
• Prepare charges or responses to charges, or information for court cases, according to formalized procedures.
• Preserve, process, and analyze items of evidence obtained from crime scenes and suspects, placing them in proper containers and destroying evidence no longer needed.
• Obtain summary of incident from officer in charge at crime scene, taking care to avoid disturbing evidence.
• Note, mark, and photograph location of objects found, such as footprints, tire tracks, bullets and bloodstains, and take measurements of the scene.
• Examine records and governmental agency files to find identifying data about suspects.
• Secure persons at scene, keeping witnesses from conversing or leaving the scene before investigators arrive.
• Provide information to lab personnel concerning the source of an item of evidence and tests to be performed.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Working with Computers
• Processing Information
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Adobe Photoshop, Linux In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel

Related Careers

Careers similar to detectives and criminal investigators include:

• Compliance Officers
• Coroners
• Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts
• Forensic Science Technicians
• Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
• Lawyers

Also Known As

Air Marshal, Burglary Investigator, CIA Agent (Central Intelligence Agency Agent), Child Support Agent, Child Support Investigator, Child Support Officer, City Detective, Counter Intelligence Agent, Crime Analyst, Crime Investigator Special Agent, Crime Scene Investigator (CSI), Criminal Analyst, Criminal Investigations Agent, Criminal Investigative Agent, Criminal Investigator.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 33-3021.00